Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the connection between telomere length and age-related brain diseases. Telomeres, which protect our chromosomes, naturally shorten as we age or are exposed to unhealthy environments. Research by Mass General Brigham found that adopting healthier lifestyle choices can help reverse this risk.
The study, published in Neurology, analyzed data from over 356,000 participants in the UK Biobank. It showed that individuals with shorter telomeres and lower lifestyle scores were at a greater risk for stroke, dementia, and late-life depression. However, those with shorter telomeres but healthier lifestyles did not experience an increased risk.
The study suggests that high lifestyle scores may mitigate the negative effects of short telomeres on cerebral health. While there are limitations to the study, including only measuring telomere length at one point in time and focusing on European descent, the results provide a promising foundation for future research into lifestyle interventions and their potential to slow aging’s effects on the brain.
Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250612/Healthier-lifestyle-choices-could-mitigate-telomere-length-associated-brain-disease-risks.aspx